Especially in the dead of winter when Jack Frost and Mother Nature conspire to give you the chills, a cozy night in front of the fire is just what the doctor ordered. While a fireplace adds charm, comfort, and a quaint gathering spot to your home, it must be safe.
Any damage, like cracks in your fireplace, can be dangerous, even fatal. Cracks create a fire hazard and heat that can damage your structure. Worse yet, even the most minor fissure can cause toxic gases like carbon monoxide to enter your home, sickening your family and potentially leading to death.
If you notice cracks, stop using the fireplace immediately, do not attempt DIY repairs, and contact an expert for guidance.
Are Fireplace Cracks Connected to Foundation Damage?
Cracks in your fireplace may be indirectly related to foundation issues. Gas and wood-burning fireplaces require chimneys for safety. Damage like cracks and unevenness due to unstable underlying soil can compromise the safety and structural integrity of the chimney. The chimney might also begin separating from the rest of your home, leaning away from it and potentially collapsing.
A chimney is often built on a separate foundation from the rest of the structure, but it is still susceptible to foundation settlement and its effects. Other areas can also fall victim to the same issues.
What to Do Next
In this post, we answered your question about the danger of cracks in your fireplace. Any crack or damage should be taken seriously and repaired as soon as possible.
There’s a lot more to know about foundation problems, so check back for more informative articles.
If your home needs foundation repair services, you can rely on Baker’s Waterproofing for a thorough and free inspection, as well as lasting solutions tailored to your home’s unique needs. Click the button below to get started!
Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came…
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came into my basement. It is good not to have to use the shop vac anymore, and not to have to throw things out do to water damage.
Basement waterproofing project was completed ahead of schedule and met all expectations. Cale, Shay, and Brandon left the work area cleaner …
Basement waterproofing project was completed ahead of schedule and met all expectations. Cale, Shay, and Brandon left the work area cleaner than it was when they arrived. Would definitely recommend.
Eric, David and Peter arrived on time and did an excellent job. We are very satisfied with their workmanship and their professionalism….
Eric, David and Peter arrived on time and did an excellent job. We are very satisfied with their workmanship and their professionalism. They placed protective floor mats to protect our home and we’re very clean. We definitely endorse Baker’s Waterproofing. Thank you so much for your great efforts.
Lukas, Jason, and Dalton did a phenomenal job on fixing my stone foundation and repairing the cracks on my concrete porch. Happy with the…
Lukas, Jason, and Dalton did a phenomenal job on fixing my stone foundation and repairing the cracks on my concrete porch. Happy with the results and would recommend them to anyone.
Had an internal french drain with wall seal and sump pump installed by Baker's. Very happy with this company from start to finish….
Had an internal french drain with wall seal and sump pump installed by Baker's. Very happy with this company from start to finish. Excellent quality, friendly service, and an unbeatable warranty made it worth every penny.James, Eli-Jiah, and Ridge went above and beyond during install to make sure everything was done properly and professionally despite running into issues with previous work buried under concrete at our home. They fixed the issues and left us with a better drain for our washing machine than we previously had. Can't thank these guys enough, and can't recommend this company enough!
I would highly recommend Bakers Waterproofing and especially Chris Snyder for any structural work needed in your home. We have an older…
I would highly recommend Bakers Waterproofing and especially Chris Snyder for any structural work needed in your home. We have an older home that is now as level and sound as the day it was built. Very professional and knowledgeable. Thank you!
We had taken care of the items at our church that we had to do like removing everything from the walls. We received a reminder text several …
We had taken care of the items at our church that we had to do like removing everything from the walls. We received a reminder text several days before scheduled work and again closer to start date. Brock called to give estimated time of arrival each day. Brock, Rich, and Travis were super professional. Communication was great as they kept us informed of the process as they went along. They also set up expectations upon arrival. We had started covering some important items before they arrived, but they covered contents with plastic before beginning the work. They alerted us to any potential problems before beginning the process. Job took a little over 2 1/2 days. We had a wrap up discussion at the end of each day. The guys worked well together and did not stand around. They did the job they came to do.
I can't say enough good things about Bakers Waterproofing. Years ago they did waterproofing for me; this time I had them back for…
I can't say enough good things about Bakers Waterproofing. Years ago they did waterproofing for me; this time I had them back for foundation repairs. It was a positive experience and quality job from beginning to end. Marshall, who came out to assess the situation and give me an estimate, was so courteous, knowledgeable and thorough. I had many questions and he was patient as he clearly explained and illustrated everything I asked about. I felt good about the price after some discounts. I was even more impressed when I got a call the next day, which was a Saturday, to schedule the job. I did have a bit of a wait, but my situation wasn't urgent and I thought the wait was reasonable for the time of year and volume of work they do.
But I was really impressed with Jim and Pat Clark who came out to do the work. I had a confirmation call two days before, and Jim and Pat called when they were on their way so I'd know when to expect them. They were so friendly, professional and respectful and their work ethic was amazing. They went above and beyond to make sure all issues were addressed by their quality work. It's an old house so they ran into a couple of issues that they handled without complaining it getting upset. They ended up having to stay many hours past the time they expected to be finished. It was clear that they take pride in their work and weren't about to leave until everything was completed according to their obviously high standards.
Jim and his brother Pat were a pleasure to have working here for two days. They're the best among many crews I've had work at the house over the years. Dedicated employees who do quality work make all the difference. They are a true asset and the foundation of Bakers' excellent reputation. I would hire Bakers Waterproofing again without a second thought.
Brendan Byham came to evaluate/provide an estimate for concrete work and crawl space evaluation. He is a wonderful and extremely…
Brendan Byham came to evaluate/provide an estimate for concrete work and crawl space evaluation. He is a wonderful and extremely professional young man. An asset to your company. Went with your company only because of Brendan.
Chris Trevitz made his way for our prepaid annual inspection today. His time was punctual and was very friendly. Any questions I had were…
Chris Trevitz made his way for our prepaid annual inspection today. His time was punctual and was very friendly. Any questions I had were answered and he provided me with plenty of additional information in future jobs we can seek out with Bakers to help our house be more efficient.
Spectacular inspection by Patrick. All issues were addressed on my old wooden cottage, prior to renovation. I’m happy with the value of the …
Spectacular inspection by Patrick. All issues were addressed on my old wooden cottage, prior to renovation. I’m happy with the value of the solution to keeping my crawl space dry. I’m very happy 😊
Richard Rupp, J. Lowe and S. Turner were very professional, friendly and did an excellent job. They put in seven jacks, sealed my vents and …
Richard Rupp, J. Lowe and S. Turner were very professional, friendly and did an excellent job. They put in seven jacks, sealed my vents and put in a dehumidifier in about four hours. I thought it would all day. I plan on getting my crawl space encapsulated at some point in the future. I also want to thank Brad Peterson for all his patience with me as I called him multiple times And he helped me decide on something I could afford. I would definitely recommend them to someone else. GREAT JOB GUYS 👍
Very impressed and satisfied. Jacob ** ******* A and **** W did a great job. They communicated how the process would go and worked with us…
Very impressed and satisfied. Jacob ** ******* A and **** W did a great job. They communicated how the process would go and worked with us throughout to ensure that we got what we needed, cleaned up the area and explained the operation of the system and next steps. Well done!
Intellijacks were installed in crawlspace and insulation was added to warm the floors of my condo.Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman showed up …
Intellijacks were installed in crawlspace and insulation was added to warm the floors of my condo.Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman showed up on time, answered my questions, did job neatly and efficiently. They let the area clean and really seemed to care that the work was done right.
After receiving multiple estimates to fix and alleviate our basement water issues, we chose Bakers Waterproofing over the rest.The company…
After receiving multiple estimates to fix and alleviate our basement water issues, we chose Bakers Waterproofing over the rest.The company reached out within a day to set up a free estimate and within a week arrived for the estimate.Not only was the inspector Jacob professional, he was also informative, upfront with expenses, and never tried to tack on any additional products for more money. The project was completed within 6 weeks from the initial estimate by Bear and his 2 man crew. They have been polite, kept us up to date with the project, explained the work they were doing, answered all of our questions, and have worked with us to resolve any issues they ran into when completing the job. This company offers a true life time warranty and we feel confident our basement water issues are now over thanks to Baker’s Waterproofing!
Colson, Antwon, Norm, and Trent from Baker Waterproofing did an excellent job today fixing our water problem in our basement. We would…
Colson, Antwon, Norm, and Trent from Baker Waterproofing did an excellent job today fixing our water problem in our basement. We would highly recommend them! They were conscientious, informative, and hard working!! Thanks for a job well done!
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in…
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in performing the needed repair. Very happy with the results!
We recently had the pleasure of working with Bob Liga at Baker’s Waterproofing, and I can confidently say he’s exceptional! Bob is…
We recently had the pleasure of working with Bob Liga at Baker’s Waterproofing, and I can confidently say he’s exceptional! Bob is incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to thoroughly explain every detail of the process, ensuring we felt confident and informed. His professionalism and friendly demeanor made the experience seamless and stress-free. I’m looking forward to doing business with Baker’s Pittsburgh branch thanks to Bob’s excellent service. Highly recommend!